Carolina Hurricanes players averaging one baby per round in NHL playoffs
The babies keep on coming for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Sebastian Aho and his wife Rosa became the latest first-time parents among the Hurricanes family when their daughter was born Friday.
“It was unreal,” Aho said Monday, before the Hurricanes departed for Washington for their second-round series against the Capitals, starting Tuesday. “So happy I got to be there. Timing-wise it worked out. Both mama and baby are happy and healthy. She did an amazing job. Really proud of her.”
That follows Eric Robinson and his wife Alli, who had a daughter — Blaire Elizabeth — during the first-round series against the New Jersey Devils.
“Just really cool,” Robinson said after the Hurricanes returned home ahead of the fifth and final game of that series. “Holding her and staring at her all day, just kind of smiling. It’s been awesome.”
In both cases, the new parents benefited from slack in the playoff schedule. The Hurricanes and Devils got an extra day off between games 2 and 3, when Robinson’s daughter was born, and the Hurricanes got an open week between eliminating the Devils and Tuesday’s second-round opener against the Capitals.
“This worked out, our schedule that we had,” Aho said. “A little break. So I got to be there the first couple days. Both our moms are in town and they’re going to help the baby and my wife. For me, it’s back to business and tomorrow is a big game and all focus on that. But yeah, exciting times. ...
“Guys with kids here, they all say your life is going to change, and for sure it did. You hold your baby for the first time, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
As Aho and Robinson shift their attention back to hockey, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour, a father of four, said his children were born at more convenient times.
“I was lucky in that regard,” Brind’Amour said. “My daughter was born in the all-star break so I didn’t miss any time. My others were born in the offseason.”
But the new babies are a reminder that the core of what was once a very young team has reached an age where arriving children become an occupational hazard.
“That’s life,” Brind’Amour said. “I’m certainly happy for him. I’m happy to see all the guys now are having a lot of (kids), that’s happening a lot here in this room, we are a big family in there. But it does remind you that life moves quickly. We do a pretty good job of that, try to stay in the moment and enjoy every day, because they go by quick.”
This story was originally published May 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM.
